SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — There are two constants on the basketball court for Nikki Arsenault.
She always finds herself in a key role and she always want to be producing.
The Summerside native, in her third year with the Mount Saint Vincent Mystics, was named the team’s co-most valuable player and a first-team all-star in the Atlantic Collegiate Athletic Association (ACAA) women’s basketball conference for the second season in a row.
“I have been a point guard my whole life, but when I got to the next level (ACAA) I was so afraid to have the ball in my hands,” said Arsenault, a graduate of Three Oaks Senior High School in Summerside. “It was not just P.E.I. anymore.
“It was P.E.I., New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, which was like nationals when you went with a provincial team.”
But Arsenault’s game and confidence grew with time.
“My first year I would always try to pass the ball to the other guard and was timid to do things,” said the 20-year-old daughter of Michael Arsenault and Susan Campbell. “My teammates and my coach who saw me play before knew I had the skills to play at this level. … Now, I accept the pressure instead of letting the pressure scare me and kind of control me.”
Taking charge
Arsenault said she welcomes the extra responsibility and accompanying pressure.
“If the team is in a rut or we need somebody to get us going, I willingly and happily take on that role, either scoring myself or raising the pressure on defence, helping my teammates to score,” added Arsenault, who is working towards a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. “Being a point guard in itself is added pressure.
“You are expected to direct, get the ball over (to teammates) and initiate plays and then you are supposed to be an extension of the coach. Now that I am in my third year, I feel very comfortable taking on all those different roles.”
Nationals cancelled
Like a lot of teams, the Mystics had their season cut short due to the coronavirus (COVID-19 strain) pandemics. The team won the ACAA championship and was scheduled to compete for the Canadian Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) title in Nanaimo, B.C., from March 18-21, but the event was cancelled.
“Six of the eight teams that were going had went the year before,” said Arsenault. “We felt we would be competitive with them.”
High school coach
Garth Turtle coached Arsenault for three years with the Three Oaks Axewomen’s senior AAA girls’ team.
“I must admit that I was pleasantly surprised to see how quickly Nikki was able to positively contribute to her team’s success,” said Turtle. “I knew when Nikki left Three Oaks that she had the skills and, more importantly, the basketball knowledge to be able to play at the next level, but I was surprised that she was able to adapt so quickly.”
Turtle said he feels Arsenault’s quickness and athleticism were big factors in her stepping in and playing right away.
“Nikki has great basketball instincts that allow her to anticipate what is going to happen, which makes her a very good defender, especially in pressure situations,” said the former longtime athletic director at Three Oaks and executive director with the P.E.I. School Athletic Association. “Add her advanced skills, and you get a good all-round player.”
Continued support
Arsenault praised the contributions Turtle and Axewomen assistant coach Jason Woods have had on her game.
“When I went from P.E.I. to Nova Scotia to university, I didn’t know if I had the capabilities to bring my leadership with me,” said Arsenault. “Now, I realize that I do.
“Turtle, even now, still reaches out to me and he’s still a coach to me and I love it. Him and Woody both reach out and Turtle will be like, ‘You have to jump, make good passes and get rebounds’ and stuff like that. I appreciate it because his continued support helps me believe I have what it takes.”
Turtle feels Arsenault’s biggest area of improvement with the Mystics has been on defence.
“When Nikki got to the Mount, she was already a pretty good offensive player but needed to be able to play better defence within their pressure philosophy,” he said. “So, if there is one aspect of her play that has really improved it would be her defensive skill set, understanding and then anticipating what opportunities the pressure defence will provide and taking advantage of those opportunities.”
Arsenault said she is enjoying her time at the Halifax university.
“I love being at a small university on the edge of a big city,” she said. “It makes it weird to come back to Summerside and drive 40 km/h through the streets.
“It’s opened up a lot of new things that I never experienced before coming to university. You meet so many different types of people here.”
